From manslaughter to capital murder, we've successfully defended San Diego's most serious homicide cases. Our experience is your lifeline.
Homicide is the most serious offense you can be charged with. Few things are more frightening, confusing, and intimidating than being accused of killing another person. It can be incredibly tempting to talk about it with someone else – either helping yourself to understand what occurred or perhaps trying to explain your version of events before it spirals beyond control. Exercise your right to remain silent! If you have been arrested or accused of homicide, murder, or manslaughter, the most important things you must know are:
In fact, DO NOT share the details of your case (or your charges) with anyone – even with your own family. The stakes in a homicide case are extremely high. In many instances, you are facing life in prison. You need to take every move seriously as you can be assured the prosecution will. The best move you can make is retaining an experienced California homicide lawyer prepared to vigorously defend against your charges. No matter which category of homicide you have been charged with, the San Diego based David P. Shapiro Criminal Defense Attorneys is ready to defend you each step of the way.
Homicide is a broad term. If you have been charged with homicide, you could be facing any of the following charges:
Which type of homicide offense you have been charged with will have a significant impact on your case. the wide range of the possible outcomes you are facing will all vary based on the state of the evidence against you, the specific charges filed, and the quality of your representation. The two major categories in homicide cases are charges of murder and manslaughter.
Murder is the most serious homicide charge, broken up into three (3) general subcategories:
First Degree Murder charges are the most serious murder charges, carrying some of the heaviest penalties possible under California law. For a murder to be proven to occur in the first degree, the murder must have been:
A first-degree murder would include some level of planning and malice aforethought and a voluntary decision to act.
An example of first degree (premeditated) murder would include lying in wait for a victim to return, planning the murder out before acting.
Murder in the second-degree must meet two of the three components of murder in first-degree, but lack one crucial detail – murder in the second degree is a murder committed without premeditation. Murders in the second degree are sometimes popularly referred to as “murder of passion”, as they generally occur without forethought, driven by the moment.
The most common example of second degree murder is an argument unexpectedly escalating to violence resulting in death.
Felony murders are unique from the other two forms of murder. A felony murder does not need to include premeditation, malice, or intent. For a felony murder to occur a homicide must occur during the commission of another felony. Even if the death was accidental, you could be charged with felony murder.
Example: During the commission of a home invasion, the surprised homeowner falls down the stairs, dying from their injuries.
In California homicide cases, you may not always be charged with murder. In many situations without certain elements, manslaughter charges are filed instead.
Voluntary manslaughter is the intentional killing of another person, without premeditation.
Involuntary manslaughter is a downgraded charge from voluntary manslaughter, lacking any premeditation or intent to kill completely.
Vehicular manslaughter charges are used to prosecute those accused of killing another person because of unsafe or negligent use of a motor vehicle. Vehicular manslaughter charges may often be linked to DUI offenses.
Homicide charges are numerous, complicated, and come with severe consequences for those who get convicted. If you have been accused of any homicide offense it is critical you contact a lawyer who is experienced enough to know how to effectively defend you against such serious charges.
The police and prosecution will investigate, intimidate, and pursue you with all their resources. If you have been accused of homicide you need an excellent criminal defense attorney on your side to refute those allegations and repair the damage done to your name. A murder conviction will have serious consequences, including a high probability of spending the rest of your life behind bars. You owe it to yourself, your loved ones, and your future to do everything possible to defend against your murder or manslaughter charges.
We are here to listen, understand the circumstances surrounding your case, and provide answers to your questions. Don’t delay your defense – call 619-295-3555 today and schedule your confidential, consultation.
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Charged with a crime in San Diego? Wondering how the case will affect your reputation, career, and freedom? Trying to figure out what comes next? Look no further! David’s book addresses common misconceptions and mistakes made by those charged with a crime in San Diego. Some of the chapters include topics such as:
“I came to David Shapiro to end my probation early and expunge my case. I had a very positive and very informative experience with him. David and his assistant Maria were excellent and always kept in the loop of what was going on.”
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“I called many lawyers after I got my DUI. Stefano was the only lawyer who put my mind at ease and gave me a sense of relief. He constantly communicated with me about my case and laid out all my options. He was willing and able to do whatever he could to help me. He went above and beyond what was expected.”
“I have used David 2 times in the past and he has by far exceeded my expectations. He has great knowledge and knows the system. He is straight forward and honest and somebody you can trust without doubt. I would recommend him to friends, family, and anybody that needs help. Best attorney I’ve ever come across.”
“Stefano Molea was extremely professional and consistently timely with responses to my questions. Most of all, Stefano was reliable. Stefano was diligent with discovery and always prepared and tenacious when relevant to the situation. Stefano is an attorney that you can count on for the best outcome. Thank you Stefano for all you did in my case. You’re so awesome!!!!”
“Ally was an absolute pleasure to work with. Her calm and reassuring demeanor was matched with her excellent knowledge, dedication, thoroughness. We unfortunately found ourselves in need of a criminal lawyer and we can without a doubt say that having Ally and her firm represent us from the beginning was the best choice we could have made.”
